Running-gear or suspension-frame for vehicles.



No. 880,025. RATENTED EEB. 25, 1908. R. HERMAN. RUNNING GEAR 0R SUSPENSION FRAME PoR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 15.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. R. HERMAN.

RUNNING GEAR 0R SUSPENSION FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 15.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

R. HERMAN. RUNNING GEAR 0R SUSPENSION FRAME POR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 15.1905,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINHOLD HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUNNING-GEAR OR SUSPENSION-FRAME FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 15. 1905. Serial No. 291.876.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Running-Gear or Sus ension- "rames for Vehicles, of which the ibllowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in running gears or supporting-frames of vehicles, and more particularly to motor driven vehicles, such as automobiles and the like.

The main object of my invention is to provi`de`-means whereby either axle of a vehicle is permitted to-rock freely in a vertical plane t0 conform to thev inequalities of the road, without imparting its rocking-movement to the vehicle-body, and thereby maintain the equipoise of the vehicle-body when traveling on rough or uneven surfaces, such as country ,roads; v l. y Y l' A furtheriobject of the invention is to n ',obviatefthe strainsand stresses heretofore Inexerted upon the numerous parts of a vehicle when' passing over an irregular or uneven ixsurface, and also to obviate orl eliminate the jarring so detrimental to the motors and cooperating' mechanism of motor-driven rel, hi'lefs, therebyy greatly increasing the longevity'fof the vehicle', besides saving to the occupants of the vehicle the general discomfortsand dangers vincident to the rocking or way'ing of the vehicle-body where the moveaxles is imparted to the vehicleinvention resides in the novel sup Aportin -frame which is adjustably-connected tot'he olsters or axle of the'running gear of the yehicle, the said' su y porting-frame being so connected to the bo sters or to the axles as to insure, a perfect equilibration of the "vehicle body.

yThe construction of the supporting-frame,

",'a'nd the manner of connecting the same to l the remainder of the running-gear of the vehicle, provides numerous advantages, as

it will be observed that it permits of the body `of the vehicle being fastened on the'upper part of the frame and the mounting ofthe I Vmotor or driving mechanism on the lower suspension is that it effects the. distribution part of the frame.

A further advantage in this formy of frame ,view taken on the line are-x of Fig. 2.

of the load of either the motor, or the load carried in the vehicle body on the center trunnions, thereby e ualizing the pressure on the springs at all times.

A s t'ill further advantage is that the engine load can be more centrally located between the axles, thereby effecting a greater'load on the rear driving axle further the load being distributed tothe center of the bolsters, it follows that it must be equally divided on the driving wheels, and thereby insure va greater efliciency of the engine. I 1

Still further, each axle of the vehicle is permitted to adjust. itself to any unevenness on the rear axle, irrespective either axle may be placed v Referring to the drawings accompanying this application, like numerals of reference@ designate corresponding parts throughout -L .258e ,Y Figure l is a side elevation of my improved 1 running-gear or frame, illustrating the same the different views, in whichtmounted on wheels, one of said wheels being partly broken away, to better show certain details of construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of a portion of a frame illustrating a modified form of construction, showing the axle in section. Fig. 4 is a plan of one ofthe frame-su porting bolsters. Fig. 5 is an elevation oi) the same. Fig. 6 is' a sectional is a similar view taken on the line fy-y of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detached detail perspective view of the suspension frame and the bolsters, showing a part of the axles, also showing the springs in dotted lines.

That those skilled inthe art may better understand and be able to practice the invention, I have shown my im rovement in position on tle truck of a ve icle 1, indicating the front axle, and 2, the rear axle of said truck. As is the usual practice, the spindles 8, 3, of the front axle 1, are pivot-ally-connected to the ends of said axle, and the steering mechanism (not shown) is connected to these spindles 3, so as to guide the vehicle. The front wheels 4, 4, are mounted on the spindles 3, while the rear wheels 5, of the truck are mounted usually direct on the ends of the axle 2, the latter being provided with spindles for this purpose. I have also shown or inequalities in the road surface entirely independent of the other axle, and, I' arri it* also enabled to secure at all times a positive K alinement of the engine and driving means ,the position Fig. 7

front springs 6, 6, and rear springs 7, 7, of the elli tical form, mounted upon the axles 1 and 2, t is form being employed conventionally however in order simp y to illustrate my invention, as it will be observed that a s ring of semi-elliptical or other form cou d as readily be employed in the practice of the invention.

As shown in the present embodiment of the invention, l mount on the front springs 6, a bolster 8, and on the rear springs 7, a bolster 9, these holsters being substantially identical one with the other, and of a form shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawmgs.

To obtain the desired strength, I generally make the holsters of metal, steel being referable, and approximately the center o the length of each bolster, the same is provided or formed with a sleeve forming a bearing in which is journaled the trunnions carried by the res ective frame-members. Each bolster is a so provided with a pair of yokes 12, located one between the sleeve and each end of the bolster, and disposed vertically with respect to the bolster, that is, projecting both above and Abelow the bolster. The preferable embodiment of the'inventionis to make these yokes slightly curved as shown so that the opening between the side walls of the yokes is upon radii having for its center the longitudinal axis of the sleeve or bearing 11, of the bolster; Thus the side walls of the openings in these yokes are caused to act as guides for the intles carried by the framemembers as w' more fully appear as the description proceeds.

ln conjunction with the holsters above described, l employ a supporting or suspensionframe preferably embodying two members, and which, for the sake of clearness herein, will be designated as upper frame-members, and lower frame-members respectively.

The upper frame-member 15 embodies a pair of parallel sidebars connected at their one end by a cross-bar 17, which may be made integral with the side bars, or suitably connected thereto as may be desired and most practical. This cross-bar 17 is located back of, and in close proximity to the rear bolster 9, and has a lug or projection 19 near each end, and a lug or projection 20, a proximately centrally of its length. The ug or projection 20, carries a trunnion 22, which 1s journaled in the sleeve or bearing 11 of the bolster 9, while the lugs or projections 19, carry pintles 21, which are received in the yokes 12, of said bolster. i

The trunnion 22 is preferably made of a 'length sufficient to extend some distance beyond the forward end of the sleeve 11, of bolster 9, and a part of the extending forward end is reduced and screw-threaded as shown 27. The pintles 21, of the upper framemember, which are received in the yokes 12, are likewise provided with reduced screwthreaded ends 23, nuts 29, being mounted on said reduced ends to hold the pintles against displacement. On these pintles 21, at each side of the yokes 12, l preferably mount antifriction thrust bearings, which may be oi any desirable form, a practical embodiment being that shown and comprising blocks 28, provided on their confrontingr faces with races 30, in which are received the anti-friction balls 31. These thrust bearings serve to reduce the friction that maybe occasioned by the movement of the bolster with respect to the supporting or susp'ensionrame.

The forward or free ends of the parallel side bars of the upper frame-member are secured to the front bolster 8, said bolster being provided near each end with openings 14, which receive bolts or rivets 26, passed through the side bars of the upper frame-member and the bolster 8. The lower frame-member is of a form similar to the upper frame-member 15, as it embodies two parallel side bars which are connected at their rear ends to hangers 25, detachably connected to the rear axle 2. The parallel sidebars of the lower frame-member lie directly underneath the respective bars of theforward end of the lowerframe-member into the front bolsterS, it is necessary to bend the forward portions of the side bars of the lower frame-member upwardly and slightly inclined inwardly as at 32, so as to clear the bars of the upper frame-member, and then project them forwardly, as 9.13.33, and at said forward ends, they are connected to a crossbar 17, similar to the cross-bar 17 heretofore described for the upper frame-member. This cross-bar 17 of the lower frame-member lies in a plane substantially parallel with the side bars andthe crossbar of the upper framemember, and like said upper'frame-niember carries a trunnion 22, received in the sleeve or bearing 11,- of the front bolster 8, and pintles 21, received in the yokes 12, of said front bolster S. The trunnion of this lower framemember, and the pintles thereof, are secured in the same manner as heretofore .described for those of the upper frame-member, said pintles of the lower frame-member having the anti-friction bearings at each side of the yokes, and the same reference numerals have been applied to all` of these parts.

ln Fig. 3, l have illustrated a modified form of construction by which the same results can be obtained as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, specifically described above.

In this modified form of construction, the.

front bolster designated 8', is provided with the central sleeve or bearing to receive the trunnion of the lower frame-member 16. In lieu however, of the yokes 12, on said bolat 24, and said trunnion is held in the sleeve ster, l provide these yokes on the axle 1, as

or bearings by washers 27, and securing nut l indicated at 12',

and instead of the pintles projecting from the cross-bar of the frame, I extend these pintles as indicated at 19', from the upwardly extending lparts 32 of the -frame.

By either oi the constructions described, it will be observed that the upper frame-member is trunnioned in the rear bolster, and the lower frame-member is trunnioned in the front bolster, and in event either the front or the rear wheel on either side of the vehicle should engage an obstruction such as to cause the wheel to rise, the axle will move vertically Jreely without imparting any oi its moti'on to the supporting-frame for the vehiclebody, thus allowing the body to retain its equilibrium.

In the present illustration of my invention I have shown the lower frame-member supporting the driving-motor of the vehicle, and as this driving motor is usually of considerable weight, the locating thereof on the lower frame-member brings the weight at such a point as to exert a greater traction upon the wheels of the vehicle, and thereby insure greater speed from a less expenditure of Vower, and further this arrangement of the oad has the effect of equalizing the strains or ystresses exerted on the running gear of the frame and reducing friction to a minimum. Where the driving motor is so located on the supporting-frame, it is o ssible to connect the motor to the rear ax e 2, of the vehicle, 'eiectin positive alinement at all times and materia ly easing the running of the vehicle.

.It is .to be noted also that a sus ension i frame of the type shown and descri ed affords an eiiective bracing of the chassis, and further affords a most convenient means of gaining access to the engine for repairs when desired, as by simply removing the nuts from the trunnions and intles, the running gear may be withdrawn fij'om under the body of the car.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle Jframe comprising in combination with a pair of axles, and sprin s mounted thereon, bolsters mounted on tIie s rings, and a pair of superposed frames, one o which is journaled at one end in one of the bolsters, and the other of which is journaled at the opposite end in the other of said bolsters.

2. In avehicle, the combination with the axles,and the springs mounted thereon, of a bolster mounted on each set of springs, and two su erposed frames, the upper of which is journa ed at one end in one of the bolsters and rigidly connected at its other end to the other of said bolsters, and the lower of which frames is likewise journaled at one end in one of the bolsters, and rigidly connected at its other end to one of the axles.

8. In a vehicle, a front and a rear bolster, each mounted on` springs, and two fram;-

. the trunnion an members arranged one above the other, one of said frame-members ournaled inone oi the bolsters, and the other of said Jframe-members journaled in the other of said bolsters.

4. In a vehicle, a front and a rear bolster each yieldingly-mounted, and a pair of frames, one journaled at one end in one of the bolsters, and the other journaled at the opposite end in the other of said bolsters.

5. An automobile frame comprising in connection with the axles and the springs mounted thereon, a pair of bolsters mounted on said springs, and framemembers each having a trunnion, the trunnion of one frame member being journaled in one of said bol-v sters, and the trunnion of the other framemember being journaled in the other bolster.

6. An automobile frame comprising in connection With the axles and the springs mounted thereon, bolsters mounted on the springs, and a pair oi frame-members, one connected at one of its ends to one of the bolsters, and the other at the opposite end to the opposite bolster. j

7. In an. automobile Jframe the combination with the axles, of a front and a rear bolster, an upper frame-member having a trunnion journaled in the rear bolster, and a lower-frame-member having a trunnion jour naled in the front bolster.

8. In an automobile frame, two superposed frame-members, one having a trunnion at one end and intles at opposite sides of the other having a trunnion at the opposite end, and pintles at opposite sides of said trunnion, and bolsters 1n which said trunnions are journaled, and in which the pintles are free to move in a manner to permit the axles to oscillate without imparting movement to the frame-members.

9. In an automobile frame, two framemembers each provided with a trunnion at one end, and each having pintles on the same end, and bolsters in which the respective trunnions are journaled, and in which the re spective pintles are free to reciprocate.

10. In an automobile frame, a bolster having a journal bearing arranged centrally of its ends, and provided at opposite sides of said bearing with yolres.

11. In an automobile frame, a yieldinglymounted bolster, provided centrally of its ends with a journal bearing, and having a yoke at each side of the journal bearing.

12. In an automobile Jframe, a. framemember provided at one end with 4a trunnion, and at the same end with pintles at opposite sides oi the trunnion.

13. In an automobile frame, a framemember comprising parallel side bars connected together at one end by a cross-head, a trunnion carried by said cross-head, and a pair of pintles also carried by said cross iead, in combination with a bolster in which the trunnion is journaled, and segmentalyokes carried by the bolster to receive the p ntles and m which the latter are free to move as the Jframe is rocked.

14. In an automobile frame, a Jframemember carrying a trunnion at one end, a bolster in which said trunnion is journaled, and intles carried by the frame-member and on W ich the bolster is free to rock.

15. In an automobile Jframe, an axle, and a bolster yieldingly-mounted on theaxle, in combination with a frame-member carrying a trunnion at one end journaled in the bolster, and having pintles on which the bolster is free to rock. n

16. In an automobile frame, a pair of axles, and a bolster yieldingly-mounted on each axle, in combination with a pair of frame-members, one frame-member having a trunnion at one end journaled in one of the bolsters, the other Jframe-member having a trunnion at its opposite end journaled in the opposite bolster, and pintles carried by each frame-member, one of said bolsters free to rock on the intles of one frame-member, and the other bo ster Jfree to rock on the pintles of the other frame-member.

17. In a vehicle, a suspension-frame embodying a pair of frame-members one of which is trunnioned at one end in the Jfront bolster of the vehicle, and the other of which is trunnioned at the opposite end in the rear bolster of the vehicle, and means whereby said bolsters may rock independently of the Jframe.

18. The combination with the axles, and the bolsters yieldino'ly-mounted on said axles, of a suspension-Irame trunnioned in the bolsters, and means whereby said bolsters may rock without imparting movement to the frame.

19. In automobile frames, a frame-memp ber embodying parallel side-bars suspended at one end from an axle of an automobile, said bars having their other end bent upwardly, a cross-bar connecting the upwardlybent ends and lying in substantially the same plane as the bolster of the automobile, and a trunnion carried by said cross-bar, and journaled in one of said bolsters.

20. A supporting-frame Jfor automobiles comprising incombination with a front and a rear bolster, each provided. centrally oi its end with a bearing and at opposite sides of said bearings with yokes, a pair of superposed frame-members, one of which is trunnioned at one end in the rear bolster, pintles carried thereby and engaging in the yoke of said rear bolster, the other of said framemembers trunnioned at one end in the front bolster, pintles carried by said frame-member and engaging in the yokes of said iront bolster, and thrust-bearings carried by each set of pintles at opposite sides of the yokes.

21. In an automobileframe, the comin".-

nation with a bolster, and a frame-member, comprising parallel side-bars connected at their rear ends to the rear axle of the automobile, said side-bars having upwardly-bent ends, a cross-bar connecting said upwardl fbent ends, and a trunnion carried by said cross-bar and journaled in said bolster.

22. In an automobile, the combination with the axles and the bolster mounted above said axles, of a pair of superposed framemembers, the upper of which lies in substantially the same plane as the bolsters, and is journaled at one end in one of said bolsters, and the other of which frame-members has side-bars lying in a plane below said axles, and is, journaled at one end in the other of said bolsters.

23.l A supporting-frame for automobiles,v comprising in combination with a front and a rear bolster, a pair of superposed sections, A

one of which is movably-connected to the front bolster, and the other ci which is movably-connected to the rear bolster, one of said members lying in substantially the same plane as the bolsters, and the other of said members having the sides thereof lying in a plane below the axles of the vehicle.

24. A supporting-frame for automobiles, comprising in combination with a front and a rear bolster, a air of superposed sections, the upper oi sai( sections movably-connected to the rear bolster and rigidly connected to the front bolster, and the lower of which sections is movably-connected to the iront bolster and rigidly-connected at its rear end to the rear axle of the automobile.

25. A supporting-frame Jfor automobiles, comprising in combination with a front and a rear bolster, a pair of superposed sections, one of which is movably-connected to the Jfront bolster, and the other of which is movably-connected to the rear bolster, and means for ixedly-attaching to the front bolster that section which is movably-connected to the rear bolster, and means for tixedly-at taching to the rear axle of the automobile that section which is movably-connected to the Jfront bolster.

26. A supporting frame Jfor automobiles comprising in combination with a front and a rear bolster, each provided with a pair of yokes, a pair of superposed frame members, one of which is trunnioned at one end in the rear bolster, pintles carried thereby and engaging in the yolres of said rear bolster, the other of said frame members trunnioned at one end in the front bolster, and pintles carried by said last mentioned frame member and engaging in the yokes of the front bolster.

27. A supporting frame for automobiles comprising in combination with a front and a rear bolster, a pair oi superposed frame members, one oi' which is trunnioned at one end in the rear bolster and the other of which is 130 trunnioned at one end in the front bolster, bolster mounted on each of said springs, and means carried by the bolster and the two superposed frame members, the upper frame members to constitute guides for the of which is journaled at one end in one of the frame members. f bolsters and rigidly connected at its other i 5 28. A vehicle frame comprising the comend to the other of said boIsters,` and the binetion with a pair of axles and springs lower of which is likewise journaled at one mounted thereon, of bolsters mounted on l end in one of the bolsters and rigidly conthe springs, a pair of superposed Jframe memneoted at its other end to one of the axles of bers, one of which is journaled at one end in the vehicle7 and pintles carried by said frames 10 one of the bolsters, and the other of which is and adapted to engage in the bolsters.

journaled at the. op osite end in the other In testimony whereof I affix my signature of said bolsters, an meansarried by the in the presence of two witnesses. frame members and bolsters to constitute REINI'IGLD HERMAN. guides for the frame members. Witnesses: 15 29. In a vehicle, the combination with the i J. M. WILSON,

axles and springs mounted thereon, of al FRANK S. APPLEMAN. 

